What Chapter is this?

Bueno, If you are reading this you must be wondering "What is happening in the fantabulous life of Katie Howe?". I don't blame you for your curiousity, for I would like to know the same thing. WHAT AM I DOING? I ask myself this question daily. Currently I am still in Buenos Aires. My not-boyfriend and I are looking for an apartment together in San Telmo. Yes, this is the swing dancer man I spoke of in previous blogs. And, yes, this is a crazy, irrational decision, but you only live once, right? I am happy right now. In my trek to learn Spanish I took 5 steps forward then 2 steps back. So I'd say I'm at a 3 out of 10 on the "where I want to be" scale. That's not so good, but it's something. I tried private lessons and they freaked me out, because it was all one on one conversation, and if my brain was tired that day it was rather frustrating. I quit those and started group classes yesterday. They are easy, but I feel I will actually retain the information this way, and not leave grinding my teeth and needing a nap. I've also taken up swing dancing. I've now taken a total of 7 lessons. I absolutely adore it, but it is difficult to find classes here between "never taken a class in your life"-intermediate. There doesn't seem to be a class that progresses gradually. As for theatre and music here, well I gave up on that search for a bit (although there is a pretty cool jazz scene here). However, I had an audition for a teaching english film today, and I met an actor who does a lot of English theatre in the city. He said he would help me out. Who knows? If I can actually make money doing theatre here, maybe I'll stay longer than I'd expected. I was originally planning on coming home the end of January, but now I'm thinking March or April. I need more time to learn the language. I've realized that I am not in love with Buenos Aires. The people are what is keeping me here, but honestly, the food, the sights, the music, the fashion and the politics are not particularly my scene. I fit in fine, but I don't feel entirely comfortable. I am also having a hard time deciding how to balance having a life and traveling. I like being settled in a place, taking classes, joining groups, meeting friends, therefore it is easy for me to just stay in BA and get involved here. But, I know I should go see what the rest of Argentina has to offer. The thought of lugging around a backpack, and sleeping in hostels doesn't appeal to me at this particular moment, but I think I'll be ready in a month or so. Tessa and I went on a camping trip to Taninga, Cordoba on January 1st. We went with 12 people from Coy Aike. My friends from Coy Aike have been going to Taninga every year for 10 years. I have never been anywhere like Taninga, a secluded little town 5.5hours north of the City of Cordoba where they pick and package yerba for yerba mate. Everywhere you look is a gorgeous view of the "pre-Andes" mountains, and a shallow river rolls through ideal for swimming and playing, but not a good place to ingest foliage. That's right folks. I ate some strange green plants that were sprouting some fruit that looked like snow peas... they weren't. After becoming violently ill for a day and half, out in the nature, surrounded by cacti, snakes, and bugs, I decided I needed to return to BA to recuperate. My trip was cut short, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and something was telling me "now is not the time for this adventure...try again later". Meanwhile, back in BA, the time seems to pass so fast. I'm trying to stay proactive while mantaining the chill Argentina attitude. If there is one thing I've learned here it is: Do what you WANT to do! Stop thinking about what you SHOULD do. Society trains you to follow some boring, safe routine, but the most important thing is your happiness. I will continue to figure out what I want, and DO IT. This is not living selfishly, because if you are happy, your positive attitude and actions will reflect onto others. Remember: Te Quiero... each and every one of you. Ps. I will honestly try to write more. As Ever, Katie Howe